New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-22
THE VOLUNTEER ON TRIAL.
EXTRAORDINARY SPEED SHOWN AT ONCE.


A LIVELY RUN FROM BOSTON TO MARBLEHEAD--
OUrRUNNING THE CUTTER BEDoUIN.
BOSTON, July FL lSpeciap.-No event in yachting
circles has excited much Popular interest In and
around Boston the preparations for the trial trip of
General Paines steel yacht Volunteer This interest
has not been confined to yachtsmnn, was shown by
the large number OF ladies and gentlemen from all
walks In life who have for the last swo weeks crowded
the little wharf at Lawley's ship-yard In South
Boston. where the Volunteer was being fitted out
At high tide to-day she towed out OF the little
basin into the stream where her oentreboard set
and the final preparations made for todays SAIL She
was expected to stare about noon and at that hour
several tugs chartered by newspaper men were In
readiness to keep her company but there was still
some work to be done. The centreboard did not
satisfactorily and considerable time spent in
getting it into position. At 10 a. m. the main gsf
lying the deck, the sail not having been bent,
and the forestry sail was furled.
At 3 p. m. there evidences of activity on
board. The wind from the east which had been shift
ing about lazly from the southwest to the eastward
all the forenoon, freshened mp, and the Wesley A.
Gore, with representatives of The TRIBUNE and
other newspapers board, steamed out into the
channel alongside the Volunteer The sailors were
sInging cbeery they raised the anchor and at 345
p. m the tua Leader having thrown her line for q
tow the shapely yacht swung around and headed tor
the open bay Sixteen sailors grasped the halyards
singing they worked on the big mainsail In fifteen
minutes il up and the hayards made fast. There
wind enough to fill the big canvas and the
services of the tug could not be dispensed with Soon
the forestry sail set and just then the Volunteer
received her first salute 1t came from the City of
Gloucester when midway between Fort Winthrop and
Deer Island, and recognized by General Whitney
and Mr.. Burgess.
When of Deer Island the Volunteer, with her main
SAIL fore stsysai aud topsai set, cast OH the ue. and
tor the first time .he beautiful craft was proceeding
under sail. Shs SKINNED along like bird under the
freshening breeze and with her remarkably low and
narrow she did, indeed, bear striking resemb
lance to water fowl She moved so smoothly that
ripple noticeable ten feet from her stern.
OLD sailors criticised he peculiar shape. but were
forced t. admit that she was all in ALL beauty,
If she did resemble down east pinkie.
The wind died out on. aDd once more the tug was
brought into servict, for almost dead calm prevailed
until she arrived oil the Graves, where rough sea
and a ten.kuot breeze was welcomed. The line was
cast Of and her sails caught the u force OF the
1out theasterly breeze she seemed like creature alive
and sprsng al once to her work The sailors were
jubilant the oected change and wildly waved
their caps to those on the accompanying steamers
IL just the wind desired by her owner and
designer aud gave good opportunity to test her quail
ties in pretty rough seas. What she will do in
light wind remains to be 1t was not the most
test that she will get, but it was strong enough
TO test her qualities and In rough weather. She
over the waves and leaving less wake In her stern
than many boat halt her size would have stirred up.
She heeed under the strong :pressure OF her
tremendous spread OF canvas but at time was her
graceful and aroused the enthusiasm Of the experts
who watching her movements most crincally
Her canvas was OF course. stiff and somewhat
weldly irst but II received pretty good stretch
ipg In the run TO Marblehead. From the Graves she
stecred northeast ana didn't change her course until
four miles OF Bakers Island when she wore ship aud
headed strsigbt tor Mafblehead.
AT this point two yachts seen coming cut from
the rock bound bay TO escort the new boat. They
were the soop Priscilla aud the cutter Bedouin,
of New-Y ,rk, which have bren cruising tor short
time in eastern waters. When about tour miles from
Marblehesd a pretty race began between the
Volunteer and Bedouiu, the latter
having about mile the lead. 1t
was watched with much eagerness by those on board
the tugs, Tor it really the first opportun ~
offered to show by comparison the speed OF the steel
sloop. The Volunteer steadily gained on tue cutter
aud passed Marblehead Light ahead. thus gaining
about "a milo In :our.
General Paine and Mr. Burgess express satisfaction
With the briei test OF the Volunteer Her behavior
had been excellent. and the setting of her sails were
tor the most part satisfactory. few changes will
be made, undoubtedly, as may be suggested by other
tests. but the first outing of the new sloop must be
coIaed as y decided success. The general impress
.ion among those who witnessed the performance of
the Volunteer this afternoon Is that 1t was really re-
msrkable. Captain Hauk Hat. her sailing master,
s enthusase in her praise and declares that she Will
sail ten feet to the Msyfower's one He said that the
log showed that ete made from ten to twelve knots
an hour and perhaps more. She gave the large tugs
that followed her all they could do to keep near her
sttei che struck the southessterly breeze.